PBA: Aces strengthen hold on no. 1 spot with win over GlobalPort

(Updated 6:45pm) The Alaska Aces fended off a feisty GlobalPort Batang Pier squad 93-85, to remain on top of the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup standings, Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. GlobalPort trailed for nearly the entire game, with their deficit reaching a game-high 16 points in the second quarter. However, the Batang Pier repeatedly came up with runs to get within single digits, only for Alaska to rise to the occasion and bounce back after suffering just their second loss Friday, to the Air21 Express. The Aces, who began the season with five straight wins, remain atop the elimination round standings despite having gone 2-2 in their last four games, for a 7-2 card. Meanwhile, GlobalPort absorbed their sixth straight loss, to occupy the bottom of the standings. It's been over a month since Batang Pier's last victory, an 89-80 triumph against Barangay Ginebra, which came on February 15 against Ginebra. 2012 second overall pick Calvin Abueva was named the best player of the game after posting 15 points and seven rebounds. Import Robert Dozier added 26 points and 18 rebounds, while veteran Cyrus Baguio had 10 points and four boards, despite going 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo praised his team's performance in the absence of point guard Jvee Casio, whose patella femoral syndrome has been causing him pain in his knees. "Malaking pagkakawala si JV [Casio] because he settles his team down," said Trillo. "It's in its early stage [in the conference], so kailangan ngayong may pahinga muna," the coach added, also disclosing that the team had to force him to sit out of previous practices. "If he's hurting, I'm not going to risk his whole career. "We want to make sure his injury is taken care of. We're glad that we've built [up] enough wins, so this is the time to rest it."    While Trillo hopes Casio can be court-ready for their game next Friday, he also gave credit to his back-up point guard, saying, "I'm proud of the way Raffy [Reyes] came out and he didn't play like a rookie." The first quarter was a low-scoring affair between both squads, but the Aces held the early lead, with Cyrus Baguio, Tony Dela Cruz and Robert Dozier chipped in for Alaska's first 12 points. On the other hand, GlobalPort repeatedly came up empty on their drives and easy shots. Save for a Gary David trey, the Batang Pier were cold from outside, 12-7. Dondon Hontiveros checked in for Alaska with around three minutes to play in the first and immediately connected from deep to start a 9-3 run for Alaska. Willie Miller countered by draining a trey for Batang Pier with 40 seconds remaining, their first field goal after five minutes. Still, the Aces led after the first 10 minutes of play, 22-13. The Batang Pier shot 5-of-18 from the floor in the first period (27.8 percent). In contrast, Alaska made 10-of-21 attempts, or 47.6 percent. Gabby Espinas and Aldrech Ramos put in quality minutes in the second quarter, as the pair scored inside and got offensive boards to give Alaska a 28-15 lead. GlobalPort's interior defense suffered as Japeth Aguilar and Walter Sharpe racked up three and four personal fouls, respectively, with barely five minutes into the period. David nailed his second triple to give Batang Pier some reprieve, but Alaska surged on behind Calvin Abueva's drives to the rim. With GlobalPort in foul trouble, the Aces took advantage at the line, 35-19. GlobalPort went on a run and narrowed their deficit, 39-30, as David kicked the ball out to Yousif Aljamal for a jumper with three and a half minutes to play, but Abueva countered with a jumper from the top of the key, and Batang Pier could not continue their roll. Mercado was particularly aggressive as time wound down, but his heroics were not enough against the Aces' team effort, resulting in 48-36 gap at halftime. GlobalPort gave up 19 free throws in the first half, and Alaska made 15 (78.9 percent). In contrast, Batang Pier only managed 10 attempts from the stripe and made five (50 percent). GlobalPort took a gamble as head coach Junel Baculi started both Aguilar and Sharpe in the third quarter. Surprisingly, it paid off, as they managed to hold down the Aces from the field. Batang Pier's "MMDA" squad got out in transition and made a 14-8 run to make it a six-point game, 56-50, on a fast break layup by Aguilar. Baguio decided he had enough, as he stepped up to match GlobalPort's offense. The shooting guard hit a pair of drives as Alaska went to the paint to build a 9-4 counterattack, 65-54. AJ Mandani drained a triple with under three minutes to play, but GlobalPort couldn't come up with the stops down the stretch of the third. Both teams traded shots to end the quarter, as Alaska kept a 71-61 lead, entering the final stretch. Batang Pier had a marked improvement in hustle points in the third quarter. They scored six fast break points and six turnover points, after tallying just two and seven, respectively, in the first half. In the fourth quarter, Miller put Batang Pier on his back as he scored eight points in an 11-5 run, bringing his team to within four points, 76-72. But another Alaska rookie, Raffy Reyes, hit a midrange jumper with under seven minutes to play as the jumpers stopped falling for Miller and the rest of GlobalPort. Dozier and Abueva then took turns attacking the rim and the duo put up a 15-4 run, 91-76, with two and a half minutes to play. GlobalPort saved some face after late triples by David and Miller in a 9-2 run, but never threatened the final outcome. Coach Trillo added that his team was fortunate that GlobalPort's import, Walter Sharpe, played limited minutes in the game. "He got some cheap ones [fouls] early. We established ourselves, [and] all his shots were tough when they tried to isolate him," he said. The Aces were 34-of-75 from the field (45.3 percent), against GlobalPort's 29-of-73 mark (39.7 percent). The game could've been closer for Batang Pier though, if they made their free throws. They went 19-of-29 from the line (65.5 percent) while Alaska shot 23-of-28 (82.1 percent). Alaska won the rebounding battle, 52-36, but GlobalPort took advantage on the offensive glass and off turnovers. Batang Pier posted a 16-2 margin on second-chance points, and a 16-9 advantage on turnover points. Willie Miller led all scorers with 22 points, including 17 in the second half. Gary David added 20 markers, while Sol Mercado had 13 points and eight assists. - RAF / AMD, GMA News